ODF Fire Update

The lightning-started Grouse Mountain Fire, reported the afternoon of August 7th, is burning one mile north of John Day, east of Highway 395, on lands protected by ODF. The Grouse Mountain Fire is part of the GC Complex, which also includes the Starvation Fire, near Sheep Mountain, 16 miles southeast of Prairie City, burning on the Malheur National Forest. The two fires in the complex total approximately 11,963 acres and are 80 percent contained, with 600 personnel assigned and resources being shifted to the areas of most concern as suppression objectives are met on the fires.

Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 4 assumed management over the complex on August 8th. ODF continues working on the Grouse Mountain Fire as a branch of the larger GC Complex. ODF and the Malheur National Forest, who are working closely with the IMT, have identified private property, grazing resources, and timber as important resources to protect, and every attempt is being made to minimize operational impacts to these important resources.

The team’s incident commander, Brian Watts, would like to express his utmost appreciation to the local cooperators and general public for their support.

Firefighters who have been working on the night shift will transfer to day shift today. Crews will continue to strengthen fire lines and mop up hot spots adjacent to containment lines on both the Grouse Mountain and Starvation fires. Most of the heat in the Grouse Mountain fire is generated by juniper with limbs all the way to the ground. Lower limbs of the juniper are being pruned in order to check for hot spots underneath. If thunderstorms move over the fire, there is potential for erratic winds and spotting. Helicopter activity may be observed over the next few days extinguishing hot spots inside the fire perimeter.